Washing machine having a condensing duct

ABSTRACT

A washing machine includes a drum and a condensing duct that communicates with the drum. The condensing duct includes an air inlet unit, a condensing unit and an air outlet unit which are connected sequentially. A condensed water jetting member is provided inside the condensing unit and a backward flow blocking guide is provided inside the condensing unit. The condensing unit has a flow width larger than the air inlet unit and the air outlet unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Applications No. 2004-0092507 filed on Nov. 12, 2004, and No. 2004-0093878 filed on Nov. 17, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine having an improved structure of a condensing duct.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally a washing machine is an appliance to wash the laundry with the use of mechanical power, which is classified into several kinds of washing machines according to washing mechanisms. Especially, a drum-type washing machine refers to a kind of washing machine, which washes the laundry with impacts generated when the laundry is dropped downward by rotating a washing tank 360 degrees while using a small amount of water. In addition to a washing function, the drum-type washing machine has various functions such as rinsing, dehydrating, and drying.

By the drying function of the drum-type washing machine, heated air is supplied to the inside of a drum to thereby heat the laundry therein and the air at high temperature and high humidity generated in the course of heating the laundry passes a condensing process to enhance a drying efficiency.

Most of the conventional drum-type washing machines respectively comprise a drum, a condensing duct communicating with the drum, and a condensed water jetting member provided inside the condensing duct. Inside the condensing duct are mounted an elevation limiting projection to block condensed water from being flown backward according to internally circulated air being elevated, and a condensed water collecting projection guiding scattering of the condensed water is installed on the bottom of the elevation limiting projection. A drum-type washing machine with this configuration is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2002-0054390.

However, the drum-type washing machine as described above has a limitation in blocking the condensed water flowing backward by the internally circulated air from being flown into the inside of the drum, resorting only to the elevation limiting projection provided on the internal wall face of the condensing duct.

In addition, the condensed water collecting projection is partially mounted on a side of the condensing duct and scatters the condensed water which is flowing down from the elevation limiting projection, thereby failing to produce a relatively high scattering effect of the condensed water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages, and other disadvantages not described above.

Accordingly, an apparatus consistent with the present invention provides a washing machine capable of blocking the condensed water from being backward flown and enhancing a scattering efficiency of the condensed water.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a washing machine comprising: a drum; a condensing duct that communicates with the drum, comprising an air inlet unit, a condensing unit and an air outlet unit which are connected sequentially; a condensed water jetting member provided inside the condensing unit; a backward flow blocking guide provided inside the condensing unit; and the condensing unit being provided with a flow width larger than the air inlet unit and the air outlet unit.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, a condensed water scattering unit in which the condensed water is collected and then scattered is formed on a lower portion of the condensing unit and a condensed water collecting unit to block backward flowing of the condensed water is formed on an upper portion of the condensing unit.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the condensing unit has an upper flow width larger than a lower flow width thereof, and the backward flow blocking guide is projected on an upper internal wall face of the condensing unit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine further comprises a backward flow blocking projection to block the condensed water formed on an edge portion of the backward water blocking guide from being flown backward by internally circulated air.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a space portion is formed between the backward flow blocking guide and the backward flow blocking projection.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the backward flow blocking guide and the backward flow blocking projection are integrally connected, and a space portion is formed between the backward flow blocking projection and an internal wall face of the condensing duct.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine further comprising a condensed water scattering plate supported by a lower internal wall face of the condensing unit to be positioned on an upper part of the condensed water scattering unit, having an air passing hole communicating with the air inlet unit in a center region thereof.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the air passing hole is sized larger than the air inlet unit.

Further, according to the present invention, the condensed water scattering plate is arranged perpendicularly to a flowing direction of internally circulated air passing through the condensing duct.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the air outlet unit has a bent flow path.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a backward flow blocking projection is formed on a boundary region of the condensed water collecting unit and the air outlet unit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the condensing duct is formed with an auxiliary condensed water collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flowing after passing through the condensed water collecting unit.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a washing machine comprising a drum; a condensing duct that communicates with the drum; a condensed water jetting member provided inside of the condensing duct; and a backward flow blocking guide provided inside the condensing duct, wherein the condensing duct comprises at least one condensed water collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flowing by internally circulated air.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the condensed water collecting unit is provided on top of the backward flow blocking guide.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the condensing duct comprises an air inlet unit through which internal air of the drum is flown, a condensing unit through which air flown through the air inlet unit passes, and an air outlet unit through which the air having passed through the condensing unit passes, further comprising an auxiliary condensed water collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flowing after passing through the condensed water collecting unit.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a dryer comprising: a drum; a condensing duct that communicates with the drum, comprising an air inlet unit, a condensing unit and an air outlet unit which are connected sequentially; a condensed water jetting member provided inside the condensing unit; a backward flow blocking guide provided inside the condensing unit; and the condensing unit being provided with a flow width larger than the air inlet unit and the air outlet unit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the condensing duct comprises at least one condensed water collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flown by internally circulated air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the washing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a condensing duct of the washing machine according to the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views illustrating a condensed water scattering plate provided inside the condensing duct of the washing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view partially illustrating a backward flow blocking guide and a backward flow blocking projection, provided inside the condensing duct of the washing machine according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of internally circulated air passing through the condensing duct of the washing machine according to the present invention and the condensed water backward flown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a drum-type washing machine according to the present invention comprises a main casing 10, a cylinder-type drum 20 installed inside the main casing 10 in which the laundry is put, a cylinder-type washing tank 22 having dehydrating holes on the wall face thereof, a driving motor 23 provided below a lower part of the drum 20, rotating the washing tank 22 forwardly or backwardly, to thereby perform operations to wash, rinse and dehydrate the laundry, and a door 24 installed in front of the main casing 10, for opening and closing the body casing 10.

Over the top of the drum 20 are provided water supplying units such as water supplying valves 25, water supply tubes 26, a detergent dissolving unit 27, which supply water for washing and also dissolve the detergent in the course of supplying the water.

On the top of the drum 20 is also provided a drying unit to dry the laundry after the dehydrating operation has been completed.

The drying unit comprises a blowing fan 70 mounted on the top of the drum 20, a discharging duct 80 mounted between the blowing fan 70 and an air inlet 21 a of the drum 20 to communicate with them, a heater 60 mounted inside the discharge duct 80, a condensing duct 30 mounted between an air outlet 21 b of the drum 20 and the blowing fan 70 to communicate with them, a condensed water jetting member 40 jetting the condensed water, and a condensed water supplying tube 42 connected to the condensed water jetting member 40, supplying the condensed water to the condensed water jetting member 40. With this configuration, air blown through the blowing fan 70 is heated by the heater 60 while having passed the discharging duct 80 and is then supplied to the inside of the drum 20 through the air inlet 21 a, thereby drying the laundry.

The air at high temperature and high humidity generated in the course of drying the laundry is flown into the inside of the condensing duct 30 through the air outlet 21 b of the drum 20, and water contained in the air at high temperature and high humidity flown inside the condensing duct 30 is condensed by the condensed water jetted downward through the condensed water jetting member 40 in the course of being flown into the blowing fan 70.

Below the lower part of the drum 20 is provided a draining unit such as a draining tube 28 and a draining pump 29, which drain the water externally.

Inside the condensing duct 30 is provided a backward flow blocking guide 50 to block the condensed water jetted through the condensed water jetting member 40 from being backward flown inside the drum 20 due to the speed of internally circulated air passing through the condensing duct 30. Backward flowing of the condensed water may be caused by increasing relatively the speed of the internally circulated air to enhance the drying efficiency of the washing machine.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the condensing duct 30 of the washing machine according to the present invention comprises an air inlet unit 32 through which internal air of the drum 20 (refer to FIG. 2) is flown, a condensing unit 34 through which air flown through the air inlet unit 32 passes, and an air outlet unit 36 through which the air having passed through the condensing unit 34 passes. The air inlet unit 32, the condensing unit 34 and the air outlet unit 36 are interconnected sequentially.

The condensing unit 34 has a flow width larger than the air inlet unit 32 and the air outlet unit 36 so as to block the condensed water from being backward flown and to guide the dropping condensed water to be scattered. Namely, a condensed water scattering unit 34 a in which the condensed water is collected and then scattered is formed on the bottom of the condensing unit 34 and a condensed water collecting unit 34 b to block backward flowing of the condensed water is formed on the top of the condensing unit 34.

According to this, the condensed water jetted through the condensed water jetting member 40 and scattered by the internally circulated water is primarily blocked from being backward flown by the backward flow blocking guide 50. Also, the condensed water that has been backward flown, which has not been blocked by the backward flow blocking guide 50, collides with the condensed water collecting unit 34 b formed on the condensing duct 30, and is led to be dropped downward when the internally circulated air is changed in its flow direction.

The shape of the condensed water collecting unit 34 b may be modified in a various manner as necessary so as to enhance an efficiency of blocking backward flow of the condensed water, by extending a region where the condensed water collides with an internal wall face of the condensing unit 34 or the number thereof to be formed may also be adjusted as appropriate.

The condensing unit 34 has an upper flow width larger than a lower flow width thereof so as to cause the flow path of the internally circulated air to be changed, and the backward flow blocking guide 50 is projected from the upper internal wall face of the condensing unit 34.

The backward flow blocking guide 50 is sufficiently sized to cover the size of the air outlet unit 36 so as to minimize backward flow of the condensed water jetted through the condensed water jetting member 40, and is installed on an incline, so as to allow the condensed water collected in the top face thereof to be easily flown.

On the top of the backward flow blocking guide 50 is provided a backward flow blocking projection 52 to block the condensed water formed on an edge portion of the backward flow blocking guide 50 from being backward flown by the internally circulated air passing through the condensing duct 30.

The backward flow blocking projection 52 is sufficiently sized to cover the edge portion of the backward flow blocking guide 50, and the size and the shape of the backward flow blocking projection 52 may also be modified in a various manner to the extent that the condensed water formed on the edge portion of the backward flow blocking guide 50 can be blocked from being backward flown by the internally circulated air passing through the condensing duct 30. The backward flow blocking projection 52 is preferably arranged perpendicularly to the backward flow blocking guide 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a space portion 53 a is formed between the backward flow blocking guide 50 and the backward flow blocking projection 52. This formation is designed to allow the condensed water flown downward along the top face of the backward flow blocking guide 50 to be dropped to the lower part of the condensing duct 30 through the space portion 53 a between the backward flow blocking guide 50 and the backward flow blocking projection 52. At this time, the condensed water collected to a predetermined amount in the edge portion of the backward flow blocking guide 50 is flown out through the space portion 53 a between the backward flow blocking guide 50 and the backward flow blocking projection 52 when it has a larger tension that that of the backward flow blocking guide 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the backward flow blocking guide 50 and the backward flow blocking projection 52 may be constructed so that they are integrally connected and a space portion 53 b is formed between the backward flow blocking projection 52 and the internal wall face of the condensing duct 30. This construction is designed to allow the condensed water flown downward along the top face of the backward flow blocking guide 50 to be dropped to the lower part of the condensing duct 30 through the space portion 53 b between the backward flow blocking projection 52 and the internal wall face of the condensing duct 30.

Where the space portion 53 b to allow the condensed water between the backward flow blocking projection 52 and the internal wall face of the condensing duct 30 is formed, the backward flow blocking guide 50 is preferably installed on an incline in lateral and longitudinal directions.

On a lower internal wall face of the condensing unit 34 is mounted a condensed water scattering plate 90 to extend scattering of the condensed water. An outer circumference of the condensed water scattering plate 90 needs to maintain a close contact with the internal wall face of the condensing unit 34 so that the condensed water jetted through the condensed water jetting member 40 can be collected on the top face of the plate 90.

On the central region of the condensed water scattering plate 90 is formed an air passing hole 94 that communicates with the air inlet unit 32. The internally circulated air flown through the air inlet unit 32 passes through the air passing hole 94, during which the condensed water collected in the condensed water scattering plate 90 is allowed to be scattered. The condensed water scattered in this way is restricted from being elevated by the backward flow blocking guide 50, thereby blocking the condensed water from being flown into the air outlet unit 36.

Preferably, the air passing hole 94 of the condensed water scattering plate 90 is sized larger than the air inlet unit 32 of the condensing duct 30, and it is installed perpendicularly to a flowing direction of the internally circulated air passing through the condensing duct 30.

The air outlet unit 36 has a bent flow path whereby the condensed water partially flown thereinto, not eliminated through the backward flow blocking guide 50 and a condensed water collecting unit 34 b, can be completely eliminated. As necessary, an auxiliary condensed water collecting unit 36 b may be formed with the air outlet unit 36 on top of the condensing unit 34.

On the boundary region of the auxiliary condensed water collecting unit 36 b and the air outlet unit 36 is formed another backward flow blocking projection 37 to block the condensed water from being flown into the air outlet unit 36 through the auxiliary condensed water collecting unit 36 b.

A condensing operation of the washing machine as described above will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 6.

The condensed water jetted through the condensed water jetting member 40 and scattered by the internally circulated air is primarily blocked by the backward flow blocking guide 50, and the condensed water backward flown, which is not blocked by the backward flow blocking guide 50, is secondarily blocked by the condensed water collecting unit 34 b on the upper portion of the condensing unit 34.

A part of the condensed water flown into the air outlet unit 36, which is not blocked by the condensed water collecting unit 34 b, is completely blocked by the bent flow path of the air outlet unit 36 and the auxiliary condensed water collecting unit 36 b formed on the bent flow path, thereby minimizing a possibility that the condensed water is flown into the inside of the drum 20.

In FIG. 6, solid-lined arrows represent a direction of the condensed water backward flown by the internally circulated air and dotted arrows represent a flowing direction of the internally circulated air.

According to the present invention as described above, a drying efficiency of a washing machine can be enhanced by efficiently blocking backward flow of the condensed water and also extending scattering of the condensed water.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a drum-type washing machine having a drying unit by way of example, it may be applicable by those in the art to other apparatuses such as a dryer to dry the laundry. In this case, the drums of the drum-type washing machine and of the dryer receiving the laundry therein perform the same function, and other construction elements may be identical.

Further, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to any exemplary embodiment described above and those skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims attached hereto and their equivalents. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a drum; a condensing duct that communicates with the drum, comprising an air inlet unit, a condensing unit and an air outlet unit which are connected sequentially; a condensed water jetting member provided inside the condensing unit; a backward flow blocking guide provided inside the condensing unit; and the condensing unit has a flow width larger than the air inlet unit and the air outlet unit.
 2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a condensed water scattering unit in which the condensed water is collected and then scattered is formed on a lower portion of the condensing unit and a condensed water collecting unit to block backward flowing of the condensed water is formed on an upper portion of the condensing unit.
 3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condensing unit has an upper flow width larger than a lower flow width thereof, and the backward flow blocking guide is projected on an upper internal wall face of the condensing unit.
 4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a backward flow blocking projection to block the condensed water formed on an edge portion of the backward flow blocking guide from being backward flown by internally circulated air.
 5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein a space portion is formed between the backward flow blocking guide and the backward flow blocking projection.
 6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the backward flow blocking guide and the backward flow blocking projection are integrally connected, and a space portion is formed between the backward flow blocking projection and an internal wall face of the condensing duct.
 7. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a condensed water scattering plate supported by a lower internal wall face of the condensing unit to be positioned on an upper part of the condensed water scattering unit, having an air passing hole communicating with the air inlet unit in a center region thereof.
 8. The washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air passing hole is sized larger than the air inlet unit.
 9. The washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the condensed water scattering plate is arranged perpendicularly to a flowing direction of internally circulated air passing through the condensing duct.
 10. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air outlet unit has a bent flow path.
 11. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein a backward flow blocking projection is formed on a boundary region of the condensed water collecting unit and the air outlet unit.
 12. A dryer comprising: a drum; a condensing duct that communicates with the drum, comprising an air inlet unit, a condensing unit and an air outlet unit which are connected sequentially; a condensed water jetting member provided inside the condensing unit; a backward flow blocking guide provided inside the condensing unit; and the condensing unit has a flow width larger than the air inlet unit and the air outlet unit.
 13. The dryer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the condensing duct is formed with at least one condensed water collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flown by internally circulated air.
 14. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the condensing duct is formed with an auxiliary condensed water collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flowing after passing through the condensed water collecting unit.
 15. A washing machine comprising: a drum; a condensing duct that communicates with the drum; a condensed water jetting member provided inside of the condensing duct; and a backward flow blocking guide provided inside of the condensing duct, wherein the condensing duct comprises at least one condensed water collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flown by internally circulated air.
 16. The washing machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the condensed water collecting unit is provided on an upper portion of the backward flow blocking guide.
 17. The washing machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the condensing duct comprises an air inlet unit through which internal air of the drum is flown, a condensing unit through which air flown through the air inlet unit passes, and an air outlet unit through which the air having passed through the condensing unit passes, further comprising an auxiliary condensed water collecting unit which is protruded to collect condensed water backwardly flowing after passing through the condensed water collecting unit. 